Device for holding containers during washing



May 4, 1965 M. COLE DEVICE FOR HOLDING CONTAINERS DURING WASHING Filed Jan. 14, 1963 INVENTOR.

MA A/NY COL 5 6134K M45 gull! ATTOflZA/E Y5 United States Patent 3,181,701 DEVICE FOR HOLDING CONTAINERS DURING WASHING Manny Cole, 54 Kosciusko St., Brooklyn 5, N.Y. Filed Jan. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 251,367 6 Claims. (Cl. 21174) This invention relates to a device for holding containers during washing and refers more particularly to a holding I device having replaceable resilient holding members which hold the containers during the washing operation.

Many product containers as, for example, milk bottles, are intended for reuse. It is necessary, however, to thoroughly clean and sterilize these containers before they are refilled, particularly when they are to be filled with foodstuffs. The generally accepted cleaning method utilizes hot water and in many cases a detergent mixture. In keeping with this, washing machinery has been devised to make the cleaning operation as simple and inexpensive as possible. It is known to employ prong-like holder members on the machinery for holding the containers, the latter usually being supported in an inverted position. A major drawback in this equipment is that the resilient holder members after repeated flexing during insertion and removal of the containers therefrom, break off from their support on the washing machine element to which they are attached. This generally necessitates removal of the damaged holder assembly from the machine and replacement with an entirely new holder assembly.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved holder assembly for supporting containers during washing operations.

Another object is to provide a holder assembly on which the prong-like holding members may be easily and quickly replaced when breakage occurs.

Still another object is to provide a holder assembly on which the individual prong-like holding members may blies' for machinery employed for washing reusable containers.

0ther objects of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification.

In achieving the aforementioned objectives of the present invention the holder assembly may comprise an annular shaped base member which supports a number of upright prong-like holding members. The holding members may be clamped firmly to the base member so that replacement of individual holding members may be accomplished merely by loosening the clamps. In operation the holding members which are of resilient construction, extend inside the neck of an inverted container as, for example, a milk bottle which is being washed. Other holding members firmly connected with the inner surfaces of the base member may be provided for supporting smaller sized containers. Furthermore, the prong-like holding members may be covered with a layer of resilient material to obviate damage to the containers when mounting them onthe holder assembly. The holder assembly itself may be firmly connected to the washing machinery in any known manner.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a container holder assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of FIGURE 1.

ice

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the construction shown in FIGURE 1 and shows additionally the resilient material covering on the holding members and base member which is used to prevent damage to containers when they are mounted on the holder assembly.

FIGURE 4a is a perspective view of one of the replaceable prong-like holding members.

FIGURE 4b is the same prong-like holding member except that it has been covered with a layer of resilient material.

Throughout the specification, like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts.

The holder assembly 10 of the present invention is intended to be used on known art bottle washing machinery and the like (not shown). In general, the holder assembly is connected to the machinery on one of the elements thereof, preferably over a water nozzle (not shown).

The holder assembly 10 is provided with an annularshaped base or support ring 11 which has a number of circumferentially arranged openings 12 extending therethrough from top to bottom. The openings 12 are adapted to receive a number of prong-like holding members 13-16. The holding members which are substantially upright in operative position of the holder assembly each have a straight lower section 17 and an acutely inclined upper section 18. This gives the holding members a structural resiliency which permits them to be squeezed inwardly to allow an inverted container as, for example, a milk bottle 19 to he slipped over and supported on the holding member. After the bottle is slipped over the holding member, they tend to spring outwardly and engage the inner surfaces of the bottle for supporting it in a secure manner (FIG. 1). The lower ends of each holding member 13-16 extend a distance below the support ring 11 and are bent over, the purpose of which will be explained later on in the specification.

The support ring 11 is also provided with additional smaller holding members 20-23' which are utilized for supporting smaller containers. These holding members 20-23 each have a lower portion 24 firmly connected with and extending radially inwardly of the support ring, and an upright portion 25 extending at substantially a right angle to the lower portion 24. The holding members 20-23 are preferably welded to the support ring 11.

The larger holding members 13-16 are removably connected with the support ring by means of clamps 26 and 27 (FIG. 2). The clamps comprise stationary plates 28, 28' which are firmly connected to the underside of sup port ring 11 by means of a number of welds 29, and are located inside the lower end portion 30 of the holding members 13-16. Each clamp is provided'with a removable or outer plate 31, 31' which is located on the outer side of lower end portions 30. The stationary and outer plate of each clamp is tapped to receive machine bolts 32, 32. By tightening the machine bolts, the outer plates of each clamp are forced inwardly toward the stationary plates. This clamping action exerted on the lower ends 30 of the holding members which are positioned between the plates, prevents the holding members from being withdrawn from support ring 11.

ings 12 in the support ring.

The constant ing and removing thebottle 19 from the assembly causes. fatigue in the holding members where they pass through the support ring 11 and in time they break off the assembly at that point. To replace a broken holding member 13-16, the appropriate outer plate 31, 31 is removed by Since as was previouslymentioned, the lower ends 30 are bent over, the holding; members are also prevented from rotating within the openshape as, shown.

" g j ii-sn unscrewing the n achinebolt which exposes 'the lowerpori, I tion- 30 of the brolgen holding member inquest-ion. With a pair of pliers'or othersuitable tool,the lower portion 30 is straightened to allowit to. pass up through the open ing 12, in the Support ring; A-r'eplacement holding'me'rnber 13" (FIG. 4a)*is then inserted through the openingi 1 2 in quest-ion. Theyholding member 13' may be provided-j as a straight member or it may be p're-bentto the required p v The lower portion 30 of the holding v member '13 which extends-beneath supportring 11 is 'then bent over to theposition shownjin FIGURE land the outer plate replaced and screwed'up tight.

Since the holdervassembly 10 is frequently utiliied ffor supporting-glassware, it is preferable that the' holding;

I members 13-16,}20-23 andisupport ring'll be'covered with a layer ofv resilient material 33""asillustrated in FIG- UR-E 3. v.Th e same is. true ofthe replacement holding p rtion extending alrdistance below .said supp oift base, another plurality of smaller holding members,- saidother.

holding members-having a lowerportion firmly connected with said support base andextending radially inwardly thereof, and an integral upper portion extending upwardly relatively. to=said support base, and substantiallyparallel to the firsbmentioned holding mernbers, plates firmly connected to the lower'surfacefof said support plate and located at. one side of the lower portions'fof succeeding pairs of the first-mentioned holding members, and remov able plates connected with the first-mentioned plates-and lo'cated on therother side of the lower portionslof each of said succeeding pair of the first mentionedholding members the first-mentioned plates andsaid removableplates cooperating tofclamp: said first-mentioned holdingmem bers to prevent their removalflfrom said supportbase.

member 13 "shown inlFIGUREAbQ Thus, the resilient" material act'sjto rcushion'ther engagement of the holder as-f sembly with container beingr'insertedfthereon. The layer 1 of resilient material ma'ynbe applied in any knownmanner as, for: example, by sprayingetc.

The present invention thus provides a holder assemblyfor supporting containers for washing which; is particularly'suited for use on known art washing machinery since brokenholding members may be replaced easily without removinggthe entire assembly from theimachineryfor,

repair. V

like"for ;washing, said; holder assembly comprising a supj port base having a centralopening'and parallelupper and ,5 prong-like holding members supportedlo'oselyin each of saidopen irigs and extending upwardly from said support 1 While there above-disclosedbut one embodiment of 1 the holder assembly, 'itaisf'possible to pr'oducestill' other lower surfaces, a" plurality ofprDn-like holding members supported "loosely in saidfsupport 'base'f and extendingmp-fw:

members, said jother holdingg'members having a lower '7 wardly: therefromfifanother: plurality of srnallerholding I portion; firmly connected with s'aid support base; andiextending radially inwardly. thereof; andangint'egr'al' uppe xportionr extending upwardly. relatively to'said support base and substantially parallel :to" the first-nientioned holdingmembers, andgelam'ping meansj cai'ried at the lower 'sur v face o fzsaidsupportibase'for preventing removallof the first-mentioned holding members from saidsupport' base. ,1

2. A .holder assembly-for supporting bottles andthe like for. washing,.said holder assembly comprising iari 21117.

nular-shaped support base having parallel upper aIId IOW- er surfaces, a"plurality {of prong-like -h olding member supporte'drlbo's'ely in: said" supportbas'efand extending up-f wardly therefrom, said holding'members-having' a lower portion extending a distance below saidfsupport'b'ase, allother plurality of smaller holding members, 'said other holdingrnern'bers. having aloweraportion firmly'connected V V with said supportibase andz extending' radially inwardly' thereof, andan integral upper portion} extending upward-H ly 'relatively to said'support base and substantially parallel to the first-mentioned holding members, and clamping 'tionedi'plates by means v4. A holder assemblyinaccordance with claim wherein said removable plates are connected to ,the first-men- V of machine boltspa'ssing. through eachof said plates. Y

a 5. A holder assembly forsupportirig bottles and the like for washing, said holder assembly comprising an annular-shapedsupport base having parallel upper and lowe'r surfaces and a plurality of openings extending through saidsupport base from said upper to said lower surfaces,

said support-base and extending radially inwardly thereof,

and an integral upper;portiontextending;upwardly relatively to. said support base a'n'd'substantially parallel to the first-mentioned holding members, and clamping means 'carried atrthe lower surface,; off said support base for preventing; r

movalf of the firstfmentionediholding membersjfrom saidsupp'ort base. i

6. A h lder as'sembly for supporting bottleslandfth'e like for washing, saidholder assembly v comprising an annular-shaped support base having parallel upper and lowersurfaces,-anda' plurality of circumferentially spacedopenings extending through said support base from said upper to said lowersurfaces, prong-like holding members supported looselyinjeach of said openings and extending upwardly from said support base, "said holding members i having a lowerportion extendingaQdistance below said support baserand-directed inwardly of saidsupport base, another plurality of: smaller holding members, said other holding members having a lower portion firmly connected with said support base ,and extending radially inwardly thereof, v andanintegral upper portion extending-upwardly relatively;.to said supportlbase :and substantially parala lelto the first inentioned holding, members, and clamping means carried at thez lower surfa ce of said support base for preventing removal of the; first-mentioned holding membersfrom said'suppfort base means carried at the lower surfaceof said support base; for preventingremoval'of the"first-mentioned holding ,membersfromsaidsxiriport'basek- 3. A holder,.assembly for supporting'bottles and'the V like' for washing, said holder assembly comprisingan an-- I e 1 nular-shaped support base having parallel upper and low er surfaces, a'plurality of prong-likei holding members' supported loosely in: said support base and: extending up-- v wardly therefrom, sajdfholdingmembershaving, a lower} References Cited the Examiner f -UNI TED sT ATEs PATENTS 1,744,054

V ,1 30 OS mve ,21 1"-74 1,835,726 12/31,; Thompson 211- 2,804,213 8/571; FOX 211-41 6l1,653i,fli1/48 "Great" Britain. i

CLAUDE AZLE ROY, Primary Ejcaminer, 

1. A HOLDER ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORTING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE TO WASHING, SAID HOLDER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A SUPPORT BASE HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING AND PARALLEL UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES, A PLURALITY OF PRONG-LIKE HOLDING MEMBERS SUPPORTED LOOSELY IN SAID SUPPORT BASE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, ANOTHER PLURALITY OF SMALLER HOLDING MEMBERS, SAID OTHER HOLDING MEMBERS HAVING A LOWER PORTION FIRMLY CONNECTED WITH SAID SUPPORT BASE AND EXTENDING RADIALLY INWARDLY THEREOF, AND AN INTEGRAL UPPER PORTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY RELATIVELY TO SAID SUPPORT BASE AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE FIRST-MENTIONED HOLDING MEMBERS, AND CLAMPING MEANS CARRIED AT THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID SUPPORT BASE FOR PREVENTING REMOVAL OF THE FIRST-MENTIONED HOLDING MEMBERS FROM SAID SUPPORT BASE. 